Material Beacons
by IssaMe
Material Beacons changes what a beacon does by the material used to build its base, so a copper or wool base grants different effects than a stone one.
What it does
Instead of building a beacon from any valid material and getting the same effect, the material chosen for the base decides which effect the beacon provides. Each base material is listed in a data file under the beacon folder, with a set of tiers. Lower tiers apply first, and a tier can hold several effects. Tiers are independent of one another, so each one can carry its own effects and ranges.
The concept follows the Hardcore Beacons and Better Wolves mods. The mod needs Fabric API and runs on the server; a client can join without installing it. Builds cover 1.20.1 – 26.3 for Fabric and NeoForge, released under the MIT License as open source.
Key features
Material-based effects
The base material selects the beacon's effect, so the same beacon shape can produce different results.
Tiered powers
Each base material has a list of powers indexed by tier, with one or more effects assigned to each tier.
Data-driven bases
Base materials are defined in JSON files, with block tags or block ids accepted, so server owners can edit them without code.
Independent tier ranges
Each tier sets its own effects and ranges, with no link to the tiers above or below.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
1.20.x2 of 2 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Optional 1
How it compares
Custom Better Beacon is open source under the Apache License 2.0, server-side only, with files for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 1.20.1 – 26.2. Underground Beacons is also server-side only and runs on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, but it is not open source and is under All rights reserved.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Beacons | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 26.3 | Server required, client optional | 2026-09-23 |
| Custom Better Beacon | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 26.2 | Server-side only | 2026-08-20 |
| Underground Beacons | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.20.1 – 26.3 | Server-side only | 2026-10-01 |
Questions
Does Material Beacons need Fabric API?
Does a client need Material Beacons installed?
Which game versions have files for Material Beacons?
In the catalog
Material Beacons is one of 7,216 Magic mods on ModsFinder, and one of 3,630 Magic mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
Similar mods
What the author says
Changes how beacons work depending on the material used. Instead of beacons being built out of any valid material and then selecting an effect, the material used to build the beacon determines the effect. Based on the concept of Hardcore Beacons from the Better Than Wolves mod.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/material-beacons
- Owner
- IssaMe
- Published
- 2024-05-27
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-23
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15
